Alabama Farmers Federation to elect new president

The Alabama Farmers Federation’s 91st annual meeting will meet this weekend and elect a new president to succeed Limestone County farmer Jerry Newby, who isn’t seeking an eighth term.

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By Dana BeyerleMontgomery Bureau Chief

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 5:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 5:49 p.m.

MONTGOMERY | The Alabama Farmers Federation’s 91st annual meeting will meet this weekend and elect a new president to succeed Limestone County farmer Jerry Newby, who isn’t seeking an eighth term.

The meeting in Montgomery begins Sunday with a speech by Gov. Robert Bentley followed Monday by political strategist Karl Rove, and remarks by American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

Alfa spokesman Jeff Helms said a new president will be voted on during a closed meeting Monday. Three candidates are vying to succeed Newby, 65, as president of the farm organization and of Alfa Insurance Co.

Newby announced earlier this year he would retire at the end of the current two-year term and return to family farming in north Alabama.

The candidates to replace Newby are state Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, a cotton farmer, Jimmy Parnell of Maplesville and Ricky Wiggins of Covington County.

After Newby succeeded Goodwin Myrick as the group’s president in 1998, the organization began to reflect his low-profile personality and entered a new political era.

“I would say that it is more low-keyed in Montgomery than it has been,” Jess Brown, a political science professor at Athens State University, said Thursday.

Alfa’s reason for existence partly was to minimize property taxes. But after a bill passed in 1978 hampered the state’s ability to raise timber and agricultural property taxes, Alfa put more emphasis on growing its insurance business, Brown said.

“More than a generation ago it was three to five groups that would have ruled the roost and Alfa was one of them,” Brown said.

Newby also successfully rejoined Alfa with the American Farm Bureau. Members approved the association in 2005.

Alfa and the American Farm Bureau had split in 1981 over out-of-state insurance issues three years after Myrick took over as president.

Newby is on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

Bentley is scheduled to speak Sunday at the opening session that begins at 4 p.m. A concert that night will feature Grammy winner Dwight Yoakam.

During Monday’s business session, the 3,500 voting delegates will elect leaders of the 380,000-member organization, Alfa said.

Political strategist Rove, a former deputy chief of staff under President George W. Bush, is the keynote speaker for Monday’s closing session, followed by remarks from Stallman. American Farm Bureau’s president.

<p>MONTGOMERY | The Alabama Farmers Federation's 91st annual meeting will meet this weekend and elect a new president to succeed Limestone County farmer Jerry Newby, who isn't seeking an eighth term.</p><p>The meeting in Montgomery begins Sunday with a speech by Gov. Robert Bentley followed Monday by political strategist Karl Rove, and remarks by American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.</p><p>Alfa spokesman Jeff Helms said a new president will be voted on during a closed meeting Monday. Three candidates are vying to succeed Newby, 65, as president of the farm organization and of Alfa Insurance Co.</p><p>Newby announced earlier this year he would retire at the end of the current two-year term and return to family farming in north Alabama.</p><p>The candidates to replace Newby are state Rep. Richard Lindsey, D-Centre, a cotton farmer, Jimmy Parnell of Maplesville and Ricky Wiggins of Covington County.</p><p>After Newby succeeded Goodwin Myrick as the group's president in 1998, the organization began to reflect his low-profile personality and entered a new political era.</p><p>“I would say that it is more low-keyed in Montgomery than it has been,” Jess Brown, a political science professor at Athens State University, said Thursday. </p><p>Alfa's reason for existence partly was to minimize property taxes. But after a bill passed in 1978 hampered the state's ability to raise timber and agricultural property taxes, Alfa put more emphasis on growing its insurance business, Brown said.</p><p>“More than a generation ago it was three to five groups that would have ruled the roost and Alfa was one of them,” Brown said.</p><p>Newby also successfully rejoined Alfa with the American Farm Bureau. Members approved the association in 2005.</p><p>Alfa and the American Farm Bureau had split in 1981 over out-of-state insurance issues three years after Myrick took over as president.</p><p>Newby is on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.</p><p>Bentley is scheduled to speak Sunday at the opening session that begins at 4 p.m. A concert that night will feature Grammy winner Dwight Yoakam.</p><p>During Monday's business session, the 3,500 voting delegates will elect leaders of the 380,000-member organization, Alfa said.</p><p>Political strategist Rove, a former deputy chief of staff under President George W. Bush, is the keynote speaker for Monday's closing session, followed by remarks from Stallman. American Farm Bureau's president.</p>